3,000-year-old prosthetic toe is amazing

BY
HARRY MARCOLIS
| PUBLISHED:
06-24-2017

They found that the prosthetic toe was exquisitely crafted and refitted several times to match the woman's foot perfectly.

In what is probably the earliest prosthetic device ever found, archaeologists have discovered the 3,000-year-old remains of a woman in a burial chamber near Luxor, Egypt, who wore an artificial toe of stunning craftsmanship.

The remains of the woman, who died between the ages of 50 and 60 and is believed to have been the daughter of an Egyptian priest, along with what is known as the Cairo Toe, were discovered nearly 20 years ago. Now, Egyptologists at the University of Basel in Switzerland have reexamined the fake digit, using X-ray technology, microscopy, and computer tomography, according to a report by the Smithsonian.

They found that the prosthetic toe was exquisitely crafted and refitted several times to match the woman's foot perfectly.

"The [toe] testifies to the skills of an artisan who was very familiar with the human physiognomy," according to a University of Basel statement. "The technical know-how can be seen particularly well in the mobility of the prosthetic extension and the robust structure of the belt strap."

That the prosthetic Great Toe was crafted with such painstaking care shows that the woman "valued a natural look, aesthetic and comfort and that she was able to count on highly qualified specialists to provide this," the statement added.

Archaeologists discovered the faux toe in a plundered shaft tomb cut into the rock at the graveyard of Sheikh' Abd el-Qurna, near Luxor. The research team from the University of Basel is in the process of creating 3D maps of the Sheikh' Abd el-Qurna tombs